Members of the Harrisburg Fire Bureau and Pennsylvania Task Force 1 are stationed in South Carolina to assist during Hurricane Ian.
As Hurricane Ian makes its way into South Carolina, Harrisburg first responders are ready to help.
Eight firefighters from the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire are stationed in Charleston in their capacity as members of the Pennsylvania Task Force 1 to assist with rescue efforts.
“From a rescue standpoint, they can do anything to help,” said Chief Brian Enterline in a statement from the city on Friday. “They can assist local and regional responders with water rescues. They can rescue people from buildings. If there are building collapses, they are trained to do that as well.”
The task force will serve as a reserve asset for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to the city. They will also assist regional fire departments and emergency units in the region.
The state task force is made up of 44 urban search-and-rescue first responders in the commonwealth and includes technical search specialists, structural engineers, doctors and hazardous material handlers. FEMA oversees 28 of these task forces.
According to Enterline, once the hurricane passes, the firefighters will search the area, block-by-block, for any victims inside evacuated buildings.
The task force can be based in South Carolina for up to 14 days before additional federal approval is required, according to Harrisburg Communications Director Matt Maisel.
“It is no small feat to get onto an urban search-and-rescue team. There are hundreds of hours of additional training, often times with no pay, just to get onto that team,” Enterline said. “Every one of our guys on that team is prepared, and it goes to show the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire is committed to serving anybody. It will benefit the federal level over the next week, but it has daily benefits at home as well.”
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
